Internal electrical feeler for shuttles



Patented Aug. 23, 1932 PATENT OFFICE 'RICHARD GEEENLEAF TURNER, CF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO cnorvrrron & nnowrnsrooivr WORKS, or

i RATION OF MASSACHUSETTS INTERNAL ELECTRICAL FEELER ron SHUTTLES Application. riled. September 26, 1930. Serial No. 484,598.-

lhis inventionrelates to improvements in weft detecting featuresof spindle shuttles and it is the general object of the invention toprovide a penetrating feeler' which shall .5] act from a point within a wound mass of weft and tend to move outwardly through the I V shown in Fig. 1,

latter to give indication of weft exhaustion The usual spindle shuttle is provided with a transverse pivot on which is mounted a mi spindle having portions normally tending to the resilient parts of the spindle and moves I through a detecting slot in the weft 03.11161'.

separate to grip the interior walls of a weft carrier, such as a cop. In constructions which I have heretofore proposed a lever is mounted for pivotal movement in the slot between at the time of weft exhaustion so as to close an electric circuit or otherwise give indica tion of weft exhaustion. It is an important object of my present invention to provide the detecting element with a part capable-of penetrating a few coils of weft extending across the detecting slot so that the indicating movement of said element may take place prior to the complete uncovering of the slot in the cop. In this way it is unnecessary to wind a bunch of reserve weft on the cop.

In the usual form of weft detector, either on the lay or a stationary support, the detector engages the weft when the latter is not unwinding. In the present instance, how-- ever, the detector will have its tooth or teeth projecting through the weft when the latter out breaking.

With these and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the combination and ar rangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPO- two forms of detecting teeth are conveniently set forth, I

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through a shuttle made according to the preferred form of my present invention, 1 I

I Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the shuttle Fig. 3 is a view similar to a'portion of Fig.

1 but showing the detecting end'of the lever Y penetrating a small layer of weft overlying the detector slot in the weft cop or weft carrier I I F 4 showsva side elevation of a detector lever having themo dified yarn penetrating element, on an enlarged scale, and I Fig:' 5 is a det'ailvertical section on line 55 of Fig. 4. I v a Referring tothe drawing, the shuttle S is provided with atransverse pin on which .is pivotally'mounted a spindle 11 formed of; two parts 12 and 13 between which lies a slot 14. One wall of theshuttle is provided with a pair of contact .plates 15 and 16' which coactrespectively with brushes 17 and 18 in circuit with electromagnetic devices not shown capable of bringing about a change in the operation of the loom when said plates .are connected electrically by proper condi tions existing within the shuttle. The pin "10 is connectedelectrically to the plate 15,-

while the plate' 16 is electricallyfconnected by .means of a wire 19 toa spring 20 on the lower side ofthe shuttle.

A weft detector lever 21 is mo nted for limited free pivotal movement about the pin 10 in the slot 14g and has a depending arm 22 to engage the spring 20. Normally the arm .is out ofcontact-with the spring as shown in Fig. 1, thereby keeping the plates 15 and 16 out of electrical contact with each other.

The detecting lever in its preferred form has a horizontally extending portion in the spindle slot projecting away from the pin 10 and provided with an upwardly projecting "relatively small finger or tooth 23 which is positioned tomove through a slot 24- in the cop 25 on which the wound mass of weft is carried. More than one tooth may be used Yifv desired. A light compression spring'26 located between an arm 27 on the detector during the flight or flights'of the shuttle in-.

however, sothat the teeth 23 may penetrate the remaining few coils of yarn the lever will move upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 3 by action of the spring 26. This movement of the lever will bring about electric contact between the spring 20 and the arm 22, thereby electrically connecting plates 15 and 16 and completing the previously mentioned external circuit.

.A change in the operationof the loom will thereupon result, this change effecting either loom stoppage or exchange of shuttles.

When the detector lever gives indication of weft exhaustion the tooth or teeth which penetrate the weft will project abovethe yarn tervening between indication and a change in loom operation. In order that the detector may not interfere with the unwindingiof the weft I make the toothed part with smooth surfaces 29 which are inclined toward the copbutt and axis of the spindle. This avoids an abrupt shoulder on the bunch side of the tooth and permits free and easy unwinding of the yarn without danger of breakage,

In the modified form of detector the arm 40 has the end thereof folded on itself at 41 to grip several bristles 42 which. are positioned to project through the slot in the weft carrier.. Indication is effected in substantially the same manner as in the preferred form. The bristles are. flexible and bent to avoid breaking the last few coils of weft asthey unwind after indication of weft exhaustion is given.

Other partsshown herein but not specifically described may be substantially the same as those set forth more particularly in anyco-pending application Ser. No. 484,596.

From the foregoing itv will be seen that I have provided a simple means for providing an internally operating detector lever having penetrating teeth which tend to move Having thus described my invention it will be seen that changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed but what I claim is:

1. In a shuttle having a mass of weft therein, a detector. member located within the mass andhaving flexible elements tending to project through the last few coils of weft to effect indication of weft exhaustion, the elements capableof yielding to permit unhindered uncoiling of the last weft coils.

2. In a shuttle having a mass of weft therein, .a detector member located'within the mass and having flexible elements tending to project through the last few coils of weft to effect indication of weft exhaustion, the elements being formed of bristles capable of yielding under action of the weft to avoid breakage of the latter as thelast coils of weft unwind.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

RICHARD GREENL'EAF TURNER.

outwardly through a slot in the weft carrier V to pierce the last few coils of weft remaining on the weft carrier, a detector of this type permitting the use of a bobbin or other form of carrier which has not had a bunch of reserve weft wound thereon. The pres sure of the spring tending to move the teeth toward the arm is very light so as not to cause wear of the yarn but is sufiicientto cause penetration when the latter is desired. Also,

the penetrating teeth are madeso as not to interfere with the unwinding of the coilsof weft after indication of weft exhaustion is 

